It all began so well for Overseas. Their pack obtained possession of the ball and for the first ten minutes of the match pegged Stompers well inside their own half. For a long period they dominated the game only a few metres from the opposition’s line. But it was not to be. Stompers were let off the hook with a penalty and worked their way upfield into the enemy’s 22. A quick heel and slick passing by Patrick Satariano put Chris Busuttil over in the corner.

The pattern was set for the rest of the game: Stompers making the most of their opportunities, Overseas failing to play to their strength in the pack.

After 30 minutes, a period of scrappy play was finished by quick passing to ‘Boki’ Nikolic who placed the ball firmly between the posts - a try that was converted by Malcolm Attard. But Overseas fought back with determination which was rewarded five minutes before the half-time whistle. Following a throw-in close to the Stompers line and some on-the-spot close passing, Greg Van Reeven found himself in the right place at the right time and put 5 well deserved points on the board. But the remaining time was enough for Stompers to show off their talents. A well executed movement along the three-quarter line and beautifully timed passes finished with a try scored by Mario Fountain.

A half-time score of 19-5 was probably a little flattering to Stompers but it was the writing on the wall.

After the turn-round, cracks began to show in the cohesion of the Overseas forwards who, until then, had operated well together. As they became less of a force to be reckoned with, so Stompers back line turned up the wick. Any time that Satariano got his hands on the ball a try was on the cards. Once the ball was on the move no player was ever without support. This was exemplified by a try late in the game which came from a counter-attack that started on their own 5m line. After close passing between the fly-half and two backs outside him, the ball was finally touched down by Stompers flanker Sebastian Degiorgio. Ducking, weaving, running wide, cutting back inside, the ball constantly passing from one safe pair of hands to another, it was an object lesson in open play and was a sheer delight to watch.

It was all so unfair on the Overseas forwards who had toiled so hard all afternoon for so little reward. The lineouts were dominated by the faultless jumping of Overseas no.7, Piers Allen (who had a great afternoon) and by right lock, Daryll Psaila too, who worked like a trojan. Time and again they would drive downfield only to lose their control of the game when the ball was moved wide: The Overseas backs had a bad day with far too many fumbled passes.

It was just not Overseas’ day: A Stompers penalty kicked wide of the posts from 30m out should have given them a lift, but, by a trick of the bounce, the ball rolled to a halt in the middle of the try area. Like an Italian minister's T-shirt nobody in the immediate vicinity seemed to want to have anything to do with it. Loud cries from players on both sides to touch it down. Eventually a Stompers player sauntered up and did the honours. A try which Malcolm Attard will remember as one of his less difficult.

Further tries by Armando Chas and Degiorgio brought the final tally to 52-5.

The full-time score belied the run of play. The large discrepancy was down to the fact that Stompers played to their strengths, while Overseas failed to play to theirs.

The match between Kavallieri Blue Label and Alligators Cisk Lager was a walkover awarded to Kavallieri as too many of the Alligators were away from Malta.

The Malta Ladies squad were training in strength for their match against St, Pawli Ladies RFC from Germany next week at Marsa at 4,30pm.